A dozen religious leaders from a range of faiths advanced to the steps of federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday night, playing flowers calling for an end to what they said were federal immigration raids, who said they had torn apart the families and led to a racial profile.
Rev. Tanya Lopez, senior pastor of the Downey Memorial Christian Church, began the parade, recounted last week as she watched Plaperclothes federal agents flock to the church’s parking lot. She said the man was detained despite her attempts to intervene and she had no idea where he was now.
“All our faith traditions teach us to love our neighbors, and the suffering from leaving the world is less than the suffering we find, which is causing trauma that will be unabridged for generations,” Lopez said.
Religious leaders from multiple faiths left flowers on the steps of the federal building in downtown Los Angeles to commemorate those detained in recent immigration raids.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
The Trump administration vowed to conduct mass deportations of immigrants without documents, and conducted federal law enforcement operations in Southern California this week. Initially, President Trump focused his remarks on those who committed violent crimes. But shortly after he took office, his government made it clear that it believed that the country had no authorization to be a criminal.
These raiders (already crossed bus stops, home depot parking lots, exchange confluences, farms and factories) prompted many immigrants to hide, and in some cases, people to hide.
Religious leaders at the march on Wednesday called for a halt to attack, saying immigration is an integral part of the Los Angeles community and should be treated with respect and dignity regardless of the status of the document.
They conveyed the message through the city, advancing from Plaza Olvera to the Federal Building, dressed in colorful costumes that reflect Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and Catholic traditions, and singles in Spanish and English.
They call upon God, the Creator, the Holy Man, and pray for healing and justice. They pray for hundreds of people detained and deported, as well as the families they left behind.
Father Brendan Booth of Dolores Mission Church looked at the crowd at the interreligious protests held Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
In the crowd, Talia Guppy puts purple flowers on his chest while Talia Guppy sings. Guppy said she has since learned that her St. Stephen’s Church member St. Stephen’s Hollywood was detained in a raid at an atmosphere clothing factory in downtown Los Angeles, and her church has moved its online service online to accommodate people who are afraid to take risks from their homes.
“We are here to serve them,” she said. “We will maintain hope and maintain faith until we give justice to them.”
At the end of the parade, the marchers approached the steps of the Federal Building. Department of Homeland Security officials poured out the buildings and guarded the entrance as clergy leaders lined up. Inside, behind the half shot, the U.S. Marines line up were ready.
Leaders called for peace and paid tribute to those detained.
“We bring flowers, and as long as our loved ones are shrouded in a cage, we will continue to match flowers,” said Sikh leader Valarie Kaur. She turned her attention to standing at the door of the stoic door and questioning how they want to be remembered by history. Then she put the flowers on their feet.
Sikh leader Valarie Kaur left a flower under the feet of a federal officer in the federal building in downtown Los Angeles.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
In the crowd, protesters held signs with images of the Virgin Mary and the flags of Mexico. The clergy asked them to prepare to defend their neighbors in the coming days.
The father of Jesuit pastor Brendan Busse, a missionary church in Dolores in Boyle Heights, said he felt the impact of the raid inside the church. Devote members are no longer on the bench. Others called to ask if they could come to church safely. Fear is obvious.
“We need to be a safe space for people, not only in our church, but in the community as a whole,” he said. “I can’t assure anyone that we are a completely safe space, but at least give them a sense that we are standing together in tough times.”
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